Imran’s remarks on female journalist censured

PTI chief says reporter Gharida Farooqi 'bound to be harassed' if she 'forced her way into male-dominated spaces'

ISLAMABAD:

PTI chairman and former premier Imran Khan faced backlash from different circles on Wednesday after he allegedly said that reporter Gharida Farooqi was “bound to be harassed” if she “forced her way into the male-dominated spaces”.

Imran made the remarks while responding to a question about the situation of female journalists in the country during a conversation with the delegations of the National Press Club (NPC) and the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) in the federal capital.

When asked about female journalists being harassed at the PTI’s rallies, the former premier replied that he would issue special directives to his supporters in this regard.

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“If she (Gharida) would force her way into the male-dominated spaces, then she is bound to be harassed,” the PTI chief said, implying that the female journalist was “asking for it”.

“It is same as aa bail mujhe maar (inviting trouble),” Imran added while speaking metaphorically.

Regarding social media trolls, the PTI chairman said he could not stop them as they were not under anyone’s control.

Journalist Anwar Raza quoted Imran as saying: “Gharida grabs the mic and forces her way through men which makes it equivalent to aa bail mujhe maar. Tell me what can I do in such a situation.”

Journalist Munizae Jahangir called it a “disgusting statement from a leader who is supported by so many women voters” and called it “incitement to violence”.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb also took a dig at the former premier, saying not even national interests, institutions and martyrs were safe from the PTI chief’s “slander campaign”.